The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring inspections of approximately 470 Boeing 737 Max aircraft to check for cracks around the doors.
The FAA has made these inspections mandatory for specific Boeing 737 Max models, including the 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200. The inspections will focus on checking for cracks in a corner of the front door, an issue that could affect the structural integrity of the aircraft.
The inspections were expanded to the Max fleet because the design and production processes in that area are similar to the previous 737 New Generation model. A Boeing spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that cracks had occurred in the previous model in recent years.
As of now, cracks have not been observed in the Boeing 737 Max fleet. The FAA order regarding these inspections takes effect on September 10.
470 aircraft
Boeing 737 Max planes subject to mandatory FAA crack inspections.
Updates
The mandatory inspections will now also require examination of the aircraft's fuselage skin, following the detection of cracks in the 'bear strap'—a structural component reinforcing the fuselage around the front door on older 737 models—though the exact number of affected U.S. aircraft remains disputed, with one source citing 471 instead of the previously reported 470.
The FAA's mandatory inspections now explicitly require examination of the aircraft's fuselage skin, following the detection of cracks in the 'bear strap'—a structural component reinforcing the fuselage around the front door on older 737 models—though the exact number of affected U.S. aircraft remains disputed, with one source citing 471 instead of the previously reported 470.
The FAA's mandatory inspections now specifically require examination of the aircraft's fuselage skin, following the detection of cracks in the 'bear strap' — a structural component reinforcing the fuselage around the front door — on older 737 models, with the agency warning that unchecked cracks could compromise principal structural elements; while Boeing confirms it has been addressing the issue since 2019 and is developing engineering fixes, the number of affected U.S. aircraft remains disputed at 471 versus the originally reported 470.
The FAA's mandatory inspections now explicitly require examination of the aircraft's fuselage skin, following crack detections in the 'bear strap' — a structural component reinforcing the fuselage around the front door — on older 737 models, with the agency warning that unchecked cracks could compromise principal structural elements; while the number of affected aircraft remains cited as approximately 470, a disputed claim suggests 471 in the U.S., and Boeing confirmed it has been collaborating with airlines since 2019 and is developing engineering fixes, as the FAA’s current directive mirrors a 2021 regime for Next Generation models.
The FAA's mandatory inspections now specifically require examination of the fuselage skin, with cracks previously identified in the 'bear strap'—a structural component reinforcing the fuselage around the front door—on older 737 models, and Boeing confirmed it has been collaborating with airlines since 2019 to address the issue, while also working on engineering changes to resolve the root cause.
